"Is that you, Thwaite?" said the voice. "I wish you'd help me out. I want Logan to give me a bed for the night. I'm infernally ill." Lewis looked within and saw a pale face and bloodshot eyes which did not belie the words. "What is it?" said Thwaite. "Fever or anything smashed?" "I've got a bullet in my leg which has got to be cut out. Got it two days ago when I was out shooting. Some natives up in the rocks did it, I fancy. Lord, how it hurts." And the unhappy man groaned as he tried to move. "That's bad," said Thwaite sympathetically. "The Logans have got a dance on, but we'll look after you all right. How did you leave things in Forza?" "Bad. I oughtn't to be here, but Andy insisted. He said I would only get worse and crock entirely. Things look a bit wild up there just now. There has been a confounded lot of rifle-stealing, and the Bada-Mawidi are troublesome. However, I hope it's only their fun." "I hope so," said Thwaite. "You know Haystoun, don't you?" "Glad to meet you," said the man. "Heard of you. Coming up our way? I hope you will after I get this beastly leg of mine better." "Thwaite will tell you I have been cross-examining him about your place. I wanted badly to ask you about it, for I got a letter this morning from a man called Marker with some news for you." "What did he say?" asked Holm sharply. "He said that he had heard privately that the Bada-Mawidi were planning an attack on you to-morrow or the day after." "The deuce they are," said Holm peevishly, and Thwaite's face lengthened. "And he told me to find some way of letting you know." "Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" said Thwaite. "Marker should know if anybody does. We should have kept Holm up there. Now it's almost too late. Oh, this is the devil!" Lewis held his peace. He had forgotten the solidity of Marker's reputation. "What's the chances of the place?" Thwaite was asking. "I know your numbers and all that, but are they anything like prepared?" "I don't know," said Holm miserably. "They might get on all right, but everybody is pretty slack just now. Andy has a touch of fever, and some of the men may get leave for shooting. I must get back at once." "You can't. Why, man, you couldn't get half way. And what's more, I can't go. This place wants all the looking after it can get. A row in the hills means a very good possibility of a row in Bardur, and that is too dangerous a game. And besides myself there is scarcely a man in the place who counts. Logan has gone to Gilgit, and there's nobody left but boys." "If you don't mind I should like to go," said Lewis shamefacedly. "You," they cried. "Do you know the road?" "I've been there before, and I remember it more or less. Besides, it is really my show this time. I got the warning, and I want the credit." And he smiled. "The road's bound to be risky," said Thwaite thoughtfully. "I don't feel inclined to let you run your neck into danger like this."